HOYLAKE, England — Sergio Garcia hauled himself to within range of Rory McIlroy at the British Open on Saturday when a roar the Spaniard didn't want to hear came from the 16th green behind him.

McIlroy had just rolled in an eagle putt from 15 feet to restore his five-stroke lead at Royal Liverpool. For Garcia, another shot at a first major title was slipping by.

"I've always said, at the end of the day we're all doing our best," Garcia said. "And if somebody is better than you, you can't ask yourself for anything else."

Problem is, Garcia's best hasn't quite been good enough at the majors.

Since missing the cut as an amateur at the British Open in 1996, he has recorded nine top-five finishes in the majors. One of them came here at Hoylake in 2006, when he was tied for fifth after shooting a final-round 73 when in the last pairing with Tiger Woods.

On that occasion, he had been one stroke off Woods' lead after three rounds. Eight years later, his task is even harder — McIlroy is seven shots ahead of him entering the final round Sunday.